Bacterial contamination of pharynx gives birth to Strep throat, a kind of bacterial infection related mainly to the throat and tonsils. Usually, it is confused with cold and viruses are blamed for this. Often children get easily affected by this. A streptococcus also known as Streptococcus pyogenes.
How to Cure Strep Throat Using Naturopathic Remedies
The bacteria usually dwell in the throat and nose. Also, this is a communicable infection and can advance from one individual to another. Also engaging directly with the infected person, sneezing and coughing can spread this disease more.
Mostly this infection is seasonal and is found more invasive during the winter and spring seasons. Few common symptoms related to strep throat include:
- A sore throat is the most common symptom, but unlike viral infections, it is not aided by a running nose.
- Your throat hurts, you face problems while swallowing. The food feels like getting stuck in the throat.
- A fever of 101F or more.
- Red and swollen tonsils and glands in the upper neck.
- White patches in the throat.
- Tiny red patches on the roof of the inner-mouth.
- White pus-like patches on the tongue and around.
- Headache, stomach ache.
- Loss of appetite or reduction in food consumption.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Red rashes on the various parts of the body.
Some home remedies and natural cures are given below:
CURE 1: Foods for Strep Throat
Several food products are found quite helpful in curing strep throat. Throat infections like epiglottis, strep throat gives pain while swallowing. Streptococcal bacteria seeds throat infections entrust pain in the soft palate. Keeping moist and lubricated, eases gobbling and helps to avoid dehydration.
1. Honey for Strep Throat
Honey has been used for ages to cure various diseases for its therapeutic and health benefits. Moreover, it is a natural sweetener with full of nutrients and ailments eradicating properties. Also, it can be used in place of artificial sweeteners
Why use?
Honey has been considered as one of the best remedies for throat related issues and infections. It is also used to cure various other diseases as well. It smoothens the throat by lubricating the same and thus eradicates the problem during swallowing. Also, it cures the swelling and heals the wounds caused due to the bacteria.
How to use?
Honey is more effective when used with other natural remedies like warm water or apple cider vinegar. Mix 2-3 spoons of honey with lukewarm water or tea and stir it well before drinking it.
It is recommended not to provide honey to infants of less than one year old. Bacteria present in can be harmful to babies.
How much to use?
Drink at least 5 times a day to get better relief.
Precaution: Honey can give you an allergic reaction, which is quite rare.
It can even cure viral diseases as well, along with killing the disease-causing bacteria. Honey can impart great relief to achy throat.
2. Chicken Soup
Chicken soup is a well-known remedy for sore throat and strep throat. It’s also a comfort food that allows you to get more fluids when you are sick.
Why use?
It boosts the immunity of an individual and provides enough strength to combat those bacteria. Studies show that when a Straw sips a chick broth provides more lubricating relief. Also, it moistens the throat and eases irritation.
How to use
You can make the chicken soup at home or can get it from the market to store and use whenever required. Also add some ginger to it, as it has anti-bacterial properties which can help to relieve a cold and sore throat. You can have this daily or as required.
how much to use
Precaution: Avoid using the spice in your soup, as it can hurt your fragile throat.
Also, chicken soup strengthens the weakened immunity due to the bacterial infection(1) and helps to fulfill the fluid requirements of the body.
3. Vinegar
Vinegar has been used since time immemorial to cure several diseases. It finds its use in curing various diseases without causing any side effects or adverse effects on one’s health. Also, there are rare cases of allergy encountered due to this.
Allergies, bacteria, or even viruses can result in sore throats. Few claims apple cider vinegar is capable of mitigating an achy throat. By crushing apples, ACV is made, a fermented fluid.
Why use?
It’s main and active ingredient is acetic acid, which helps to fight bacterial infections like sore throats. It has natural properties to fight against any infections caused due to a variety of bacteria.
How to use?
Mix cayenne pepper, throat-soothing tasty honey, and ACV, each of 1tsp into Luke warm water and form a tea, the peppery cayenne pepper helps in curing a sore throat.
How much to use?
Try this two to three times daily.
Precaution: People with acid flux and stomach ulcers or a victim of frequent heartburn(2), should be using undiluted ACV.
Have easy-to-gobble, soothing foods like soups, cooked cereal, applesauce, broths, soft fruits, yogurt, mashed potatoes, cooked cereals. Every food product mentioned above has the capability of curing the disease aiding relief.
CURE 2: Herbs for Strep Throat
Herbs have been used since ancient times to cure a variety of diseases. Herbs are generally planted products that have the capabilities of curing many diseases without causing any side effects.
1. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a fragrant and delicious spice high in antioxidants and provides anti-bacterial benefits. It’s a traditional remedy for cold and flu to ease pain in sore throat.
Why use?
Cinnamon has antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties. This herb has many health benefits. One common remedy for cold is cinnamon.
How to use?
Treat your common cold with syrup made from cinnamon of 1 tsp and honey of 1tsp. Mix it plain or add some warm water. This syrup will fix most cold, sinuses, and cough. You can add cinnamon leaves to your tea or coffee. You can even put some of them in your soup or broth etc.
Also, you can make your cinnamon almond milk. To calm your reddened throat, make a drink out of cinnamon. For this take 1 cup of lukewarm water, to this add lemon juice, cinnamon, and honey each of 1tsp and sip it. Cinnamon fights severe throat pain, flu, or cold infections.
How much to use?
Have it as required.
Precaution: it is safe to have cinnamon in moderate amounts, if consumed in higher amounts risks like cancer and liver damage may arise.
Most of the time, sore throats clear-ups on its own, but home treatment can always make you feel relieved and better.
[Read: Natural Ways to Treat Throat Infection]
2. Ginger Root Tea
Ginger, a pungent, spicy herb commonly used for healing and cooking. Ginger the most widely used herb in winters, possesses an immense natural disease eradicating properties and has the capability of removing a variety of diseases from their root. Also, it is quite healthy and useful in winters and often used for treating common cold or other throat infections.
Why use?
It has antibacterial properties, which makes it an excellent remedy for healing throat ailments. Being anti-inflammatory in nature, this herb gives relief from pain. It also strengthens immunity by fighting infections that seeds sore throats.
Ginger bears significant bioactive compounds like shogaols and gingerols; they are phytonutrients, which is present in some foods, highly active for health, and has several benefits. Studies revealed these compounds hold anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the risk of critical health conditions even sore throats.
It is also assumed ginger has antimicrobial elements, that fight viral or bacterial infections responsible for sore throats. It also plays a vital role in soothing and treating sore throats and also reduces itching pain. Viruses give rise to sore throats, which include the flu, mononucleosis(3), and common colds.
[Read: Lump in Your Throat? You Can Treat It!]
How to use?
- One can shallow the root of raw ginger or chew it on. For that clean, the ginger in freshwater, remove the bark and slice it in small pieces. Spit out the pulp if it bothers you. Follow the same procedure 2-3 times daily for relief
- Gulping hot freshly made ginger tea is a very effective and popular home remedy for sore throat. Easy to consume, allow some time to come in contact with your affected area. The warm tea soothes the inflamed throat.
For ginger tea, combine dried or fresh ginger or 2 tsp in boiling water. Allow it to steep for 5 minutes, strain the above mixture, and sip it. Make sure to remove all the ginger before having. Try having 3 times a day for quick healing.
Ginger is also available in the form of powdered ginger to garnish your meals. At any spice section of grocery stores, you can find ginger powder. Try adding 2 tsp per meal, increase the quantity if you enjoy the flavor. Even you can mix 2 tsp of ginger powder with lukewarm water and swallow it. Repeat this process daily 3 times.
Ginger supplements are also available as capsules or pills, formed from ginger powders. Go through the label for directions or consult with a physician regarding
Adding ginger to honey can soften the taste, take a quick bite, and relish the herb. Antimicrobial properties are present in Honey, which can aid additional therapeutic benefit. Researches have explored various usefulness of honey and proved as a promising agent for hindering range of virus and bacterial activities. It also enhances the taste of ginger.
How much to use?
For relief one can chew ginger piece 3 times a day.
Precaution:
Many people tend to get allergy from ginger, though this herb is considered for the majority of people. Pregnant women should be careful while using it in supplements and teas regularly. Prolonged use of ginger may cause gastric problems.
Discontinue using if any discomfort arises. FDA does not review ginger products, and so their purity, quality, and safety are not checked. For these reasons, buy ginger products from trustworthy stores. Search for Quality certification seal before buying or else stick to products recommended by your doctor.
Ginger might kill viruses, whereas cold medications cannot. It stimulates immune responses and cuts down viruses, therefore, speeding up the recovery time and aids quick relief.
[Read: Natural Herbs for Sore Throat]
3. Sage or Salvia Officinalis
With the advent of rainy days Flu and cold season bangs on, with this gifts us painful sore throat. Besides this, kitchen staples like lemon or honey never go out of trend, which can help prepare comforting tea.
Sage or (Savia Officinalis) contains antibacterial, antiseptic, and astringent qualities. A cool aromatic tea of dried and fresh sage is found to quite effective for soothing sore throats.
Why use?
Sage is a herb used in cooking and can be used as a remedy for strep throat. Sage originated in the Mediterranean and is now grown all over the world. It has been used to treat many inflammatory conditions and controlled many infections.
Studies show that it can help in relieving throat pain. In one study, sage –ECHINACEA spray was slightly more effective in reducing sore throat pain and infection than a chlorhexidine lidocaine spray. None of the treatment brings any adverse side effects.
How to use
Boil water ½ cup of water with 1 or 2 tsp of fresh or dried sage leaves. Allow it to precipitate for ten to fifteen minutes and cover it properly. Strain it. One can add lemon or/and honey if desired, and your sage tea is ready. For throat gargle People can also use sage tea as well, it’s beneficial. In manufacturing, this herb is used in cosmetics and soaps as a fragmentizing agent.
How much to use:
Repeat the said process two to three times as requisite.
Precaution: It is advisable to avoid sage tea during lactation and pregnancy.
This herb holds a long record of using it for mouth, coughs and throats inflammations. Sage and rosemary are considered classic herbs for sore throats and colds. It fades irritated tissues and slays bacteria.
[Read: Home Remedies for Strep Throat]
4. Peppermint Tea
Among all ages of people, sore throats are very common, and pharyngitis is the foremost symptoms, i. e. , inflammation of pharynx or throat. You can blame viral infection as the cause or at times, a bacterial infection. Antibiotics fight best bacterial infections, whereas home remedies can treat sore throats resulting from viral infections.
A herbal treatment like peppermint tea soothes the throat, relieves the pain and swelling. For years, it has been used to cure conditions like menstrual cramps, anxiety, and digestive orders. Peppermint, a herb can be seen in toothpaste and gum as a sweet-smelling flavouring agent.
Why use?
The menthol in peppermint cools the pharyngitis and relieves the pain and stress of swelling; also it’s anti-inflammatory properties helps in calming the inflammation. It is an effective expectorant and decongestant.
How to use?
Peppermint is achievable in herbal leaves, creams, tinctures, and capsules. Peppermint tea cools and tranquilizes a reddened throat. This can be made at home, for the preparation Just put a saucepan filled with water on heat and allow it to boil, add 1 tsp of mint leaves to this boiling water.
Let the mint leaves release their aroma and flavor in the water. Now strain out the leaves, if you wish you can add sweetener too. Cool it and take a shot.
How much to use?
You can have this tea 5 times daily, as needed.
Precaution:
Children’s and infants must be kept out of reach, not at all recommended for them. Individuals suffering from gastrointestinal reflux should avoid using this remedy. Peppermint can reduce the effectiveness of certain medications like hypertension medications, diabetic medications, and stomach acid medicines.
In addition to these, people suffering from gallstones or gallbladder disease should avoid using peppermint oils, as doing so can worsen the situation. Lastly breastfeeding or pregnant should avoid using this herb strictly.
Herbs are extremely beneficial and are absolutely natural. One must know the different side effects before using it.
CURE 3: Essential Oils for Strep Throat
Essential oils work beautifully to ease the pain and symptoms of severe strep throat. Essential oils possess highly concentrated scented liquids with hydrophobic compounds of different plants. The remedies along with the byproducts supplied by essential oils help to heal the infection and are healthy in nature.
1. Coconut Oil
Sore throat and coconut oil gel well. The anti-inflammatory agent present in coconut oil soothes pain, scratchiness, and irritation of an infected sore throat(4). Being antimicrobial, it attacks viruses, fungi, and many bacteria making a shield around your immune system, so that you can fight the problem faster.
Why use?
It helps in relieving strep throat as it lubricates the throat and the mucous membranes of the throat. Because of this, it reduces the tension which occurs during swallowing of food.
How to use
You can add a spoon or two in your drinks and beverages like tea, coffee, etc. or let two small spoons of coconut oil run through your throat to start the process of healing. One can make a healing, soothing cough syrup with 3 spoons of lemon juice, 1/4th cup of raw honey, and coconut oil of two small spoons.
Mix well all these ingredients and slightly warm them in a saucepan. Have it directly, or you can add them in tea or water. Try adding coconut oil into vegetable broth or tea, and gulp down directly to slug down the soreness of your throat.
How much to use:
Try this once daily.
Precaution: One must consume the oil neatly and in a measured amount to avoid increased body temperature and other adverse effects.
Coconut oil is a versatile food with several health benefits. Recent researches have proved that it helps to fight infections and reduces the pain of strep throat. It moistens the mucous membrane of the throat and helps in relieving the same.
[Read: Essential Oils For Strep Throat]
2. Oregano Oil for Strep Throat
A popular herb that can be used in the form of oil. In case of severe action, it helps to minimize the bacterial activity.
Why use?
It has many advantages one can think of. It acts as a defense mechanism against sore throat. The antiviral and anti-fungal properties present in it helps in curing strep throat.
How to use
Due to the presence of antiviral and anti-fungal properties in Oregano oil, one can mix it in warm water and sip or can inhale the vapor several times a day to achieve the best results.
How much to use:
4 times a day.
Precaution:
Individuals having allergy may face symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, stomach problems, muscle pain etc. on taking essential oregano oil.
Kids may find difficult to swallow the warm water, opting for vapour is the best option for them to heal strep throats.
3. Tea Tree Oil
Also known as Melaleuca, Tea Tree oil contains essential antibacterial elements which put a positive impact on bacterial infections.
Why to use?
In addition to a soothing property, it can also combat viral, fungal and bacterial infections. It lightens throat infection and relaxes the pain caused by it.
How to use
One can mix Tea tree oil in any ayurvedic solution or in hot liquor like tea and water. It will collapse the strong bacterial infection by tapering the symptoms associated with a sore throat.
How much to use:
Try this twice a day daily.
Precaution: It is unsafe to consume undiluted tea tree oil orally, it may result in a coma, rash, unsteadiness or inefficacy to walk.
Tea tree oil is very much effective in reducing throat infections resulted in rashes or pain.
[Read: Natural Treatment for Sore Throat]
4. Clove oil
Quite popular for kitchen uses, clove oil also possesses medicinal properties.
Why use?
One of the most advantageous essential oil having antiviral properties, which purifies the blood, as a result, boosts resistance power against heaps of infections along with strep throat.
How to use?
Clove generally comes in solid form. To extract the oil out of it, we either add it to honey or pour in hot boiling water. Clove shrouds its oil in boiling water, which then served as medicine to drink.
How much to use?
Repeat this procedure as required, excessive use can cause health issues.
Precaution:It is recommended to avoid clove oil during breast-feeding and pregnancy.
Essential oils can fix strep throat both in kids and in adults. If taken in proper amount with dure care it can erase the problem from the root.
CURE 4: Alternative Treatments
1. Throat Lozenges
Recommended by both tradition and scientific studies, throat sootheners like ginger lozenges at times works great on strep throats and gives a soothing effect.
Why to use?
During extreme conditions of sore throat, our throat runs dry which causes numbness in the affected area. Throatsootheners can provide relief.
How to use
Taking eucalyptus or methanol oil lozenges, cough lozenges can mend your sore throat faster by leaving a soothing effect.
How much to use:
As needed, one can have throat sootheners.
Precaution:
- Check its authenticity before buying and purchase from trusted sites or stores.
- Though spicy in nature, ginger lozenges provide a cooling effect to throat.
[Read: Excellent Dry Throat Remedies]
2. Gargling
A few changes in daily routine can help eradicate the disease and its symptoms. Gargling with medicated mouthwash alleviates pain and reduces swelling. One can take warm salted water as well for gargling.
Why use?
It is one of the best treatments for strep throat as it provides relief from pain and lesions. Also, it helps in decreasing the swelling of the throat, maintains lubrication of that area, and prevents from further occurrence. It works great for sore throats, respiratory viral infections such as sinus infections or colds, even allergies.
It is believed and scientifically proven that saltwater absorbs water from the oral tissues and pulls out, forming a firm salt barrier that stops harmful pathogens and water from entering inside. This forges gargling ideal for blocking bacteria and viruses, reducing the possibilities of throat and mouth infections and also gives relieves from inflammation.
How to use?
Preparation of salt and water gargle is very easy. Take a saucepan and put atleast 2 glasses of water in it. Warm it slightly. After heating the water for 4-5 minutes, pour some 1-2 spoons of salt and stir it well till the salt gets dissolved and it’s ready. Its totally safe and sound for children of above six years old, fairly affordable, convenient, and a natural remedy.
How much to use:
One can do gargles at least thrice a day or more than that to get better results.
Precaution:
Avoid taking any medicine or antibiotic without proper medical consent and prescription.
[Read: Garlic for Sore Throat]
Some of the daily routine activities are mentioned below:
- Drink water more, also take lukewarm water for a fast recovery.
- Do saltwater gargle atleast thrice a day. Just dissolve a half spoon of salt in warm water and stir it thoroughly.
- Increase the intake of liquids, especially those which lubricates the throat and are oily and slippery. As these liquids moisten and lubricate the throat and eradicate the problems of swallowing the food products.
- Include chicken soups, broth and other such liquids in your diet.
- Take antibiotics in case of severe infections and problems.
- Maintain hygiene around yourself.
- Take citrus fruits too in your diet as the citric acid in them kills the bacteria.
- Use the herbal throat lozenges available in the market to soothe your throat.
- Get enough rest.
- Take proper care of covering the mouth while going to attend any public meeting.
- Use a mouth mask to cover your mouth properly.
- Seek medical help in case the situation worsens.
- Complete the course of medication.
- Avoid skipping meals.
- Avoid having junk food and other foodstuffs even if packaged as the immunity gets weaker and one becomes highly prone to develop severe food poisoning.
- Try to acquire a healthy lifestyle and develop a proper sleep-wake time table.
- Avoid performing strenuous exercises and workout rather prefer doing light stretching exercises and yoga or meditation in order to keep your mind and body fresh.
- Strenuous exercises may hamper the situation due to the weakness persisting already in your body.
- Keep a check of the temperature.
- Symptoms like Fever is commonly taking special care of that.
- If the infection persists for long, it may turn into rheumatoid fever so keep an eye.
It doesn’t matter how healthy you are still you can get strep throat once or more in your lifetime. But still by following a few lifestyle changes and a healthy diet this infection can be cured naturally.
The medicines aren’t the sole solution to this. Yes, they are required when the infection worsens but still, they can’t match the natural goodness and their ability to cure a disease. If put to proper use the natural herbs can prove to be the best remedies for all the diseases with almost zero side effects.
Also, hygiene is a must to stay protected from the infections and also avoid shaking hands or hugging with the infected ones. Avoid using the glasses, spoons, food items, pens, towels, mobile phone, and other things of the infected persons.
Better to wear a mask when visiting them as the chances of getting the infection gets maximum via aerosol infection. As said by people, prevention is far better than cure.
Also, natural ways of healing or curing an ailment are far better, and with lesser or almost no side effects are often seen quite profitable. Also, after facing an enormous increase in the allopathic medication now, people have become aware of the side effects caused by them on one’s health.
Also, the exercises and yoga to are quite useful. But since strep throat is an extremely contagious one so you may avoid going for a workout outside the home as you may infect others by the same infection unintentionally instead perform light exercises and yoga or meditation at home as it boosts your immune system and makes it more strong and durable.
But avoid doing too much strenuous workout as in case of strep throat, your body is facing a lot of problems and struggles against the invasion of bacteria. keep a distance from people during the peak of your infection as one may get infected even by coming in contact with an infected person.
Do gargles of warm water at least 5-6 times a day to get rid of the infection and follow all the dietary changes and plans strictly, also use the natural lubricants and other remedies as much as possible in order to get rid of the infection easily and quickly.
FAQs
1. Are strep throat, sore throat or cold are the same things?
No, not every painful condition of throat is due to strep rather almost 85% of them are due to viral infections which are often called as common cold whereas the strep throat is a bacterial infection and has many symptoms differing from common cold other than sore throat and swelling.
2. Is it a contagious one?
Yes, In fact, strep throat is taken as a highly contagious infection it can spread by just coming in meetings with the infected one in just a few moments. As the most common mode of its spread is droplet infection that is one may get infected even by inhaling those droplets released by the infected individual during coughing or sneezing.
Also using the utensils, stationery, and other such kinds of stuff of an infected person is enough to make you diseased. Handshakes, hugs, kisses, and other such social gesture too lead to the transfer of bacteria.
3. Can the body cure the strep infection by itself?
Yes, the body has the capability of fighting with the bacteria, and it’s infection by itself and can eradicate the infection in 4-5 days which is the recovery time of any cold or other throat infection. As once the bacteria invades the body, it starts working against the bacteria by making troops of antibodies against the same.
But at times when the immune system has been affected badly or one is having poor immunity then s/he may not be able to get rid of the same and need proper medication and physician’s consult in order to gain health and fitness back.
4. Can a prolonged strep infection cause other serious problems?
Yes, a prolonged state of strep throat leads to other serious disorders affecting various body parts. The prolonged infection can cause rheumatoid fever infecting the connective tissues severely by causing lesions and inflammation in the same. It may block arteries and major veins causing severe heart problems too. Also, the prolonged infection is found to produce severe effects on the kidneys too.
